Combined bootjack and boot hook



0d. 16, 1951 c, HlLTON 2,571,447

COMBINED BOOT-JACK AND BOOT HOOK Filed Sept. 4, 1946 INVENTOR.

ef'lyaries G. Hill? 012 4 ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,571,441 COMBINEDBOOTJAOK AND BOOT HOOK Charles G. Hilton, Amarillo, Tex. ApplicationSeptember 4, 1946, Serial No. 694,723

7 Claims. (Cl. 223115) This application is a continuation-impart of myprior application on Combined Boot Jacks and Boot Hooks, filed August12, 1943, Serial No. 498,349, and now matured into Patent No. 2,408,640,dated October 1, 1946.

This invention relates to improvements in combined boot jacks and boothooks of the character used for applying and removing the boots ofindividuals.

Boot jacks and boot hooks as used heretofore generally have requiredseparate instruments for the respective purposes and have not been soconstructed as to provide one instrument to serve both purposes.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction of bootjacks and boot hooks to enable these to be combined in one instrumentcapable of use for the respective purposes and sumciently sturdy andrigid to remove the boots effectively when desired as well as to applythe boots by drawin them onto the feet.

A further object of the invention is to improve the construction of bootjacks and boot hooks so they will be capable of serving both purposes,and yet the separate elements forming the boot hooks are adapted to befitted together in coacting relation to serve as a boot jack orseparated and nested together for shipping and storing.

These objects may be accomplished according to certain embodiments ofthe invention by the provision of separate elements each of which isconstructed with a boot hook thereon capable of use in drawing on theboots, and yet the elements are constructed for interengagement incoacting relation to form a boot jack that will be useful in removing aboot. The elements are interconnected as by means of a hook and eye orother provision to prevent them from collapsing when assembled to formthe boot jack. Such a construction may be made suficiently sturdy andrigid to be effective for the purpose, and yet may be separable andnested together for shipping and storing.

Certain embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 isa perspective view of the device used as a boot jack;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the elements of the device used asa boot hook;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device with the parts assembled as aboot jack;

Fig. 4 is a cross section therethrough on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 55 of Fig. V

Fig. 6 is a similar view on the line 6-6 of Fi 3;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the device used as a boot jack.

Referring tothe form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7, the deviceis constructed of separable main body members I and I' which may beformed of wood or other suitable supporting III material that hassuflicient light weight and sturdiness for the purpose. These bodymembers I and I are elongated and adapted to be fitted together in sideby side relation as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 where, they may be securedby hook and eye members 2 and 3 attached to the underside thereof asshown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Each of the body members I and I has a latorally tapered yoke arm 4 onone end thereof, which arms 4 cooperate to form a yoke when the membersI and I are assembled in side by side relation, which yoke is used as aboot jack for removing the boot as shown in Fig. '7. The inner face ofthis yoke is covered with a cushioning material such as soft leather,indicated at 5, to prevent marring of the heel portion of the boot during removal thereof.

The body members I and I are adapted to be supported in the inclinedpositions indicated in Figs. 1 and 7 when used as a boot jack by stands6 at the undersides thereof. These stands are shown as formed by metalrods extending lengthwise under the body members. At one end, each ofthe stands has an upturned portion 1, which extends into an opening atthe underside of the body members I and I and is secured thereto by anail 8. At the opposite end, each stand 6 has an outturned boot hook 9so disposed as to lie in longitudinal alignment with thebody member I orI and when these members are assembled in side by side relation, thehooks 9 project in opposite directions from each other and are disposedat the ends of the body members to form a lateral brace for the bootjack to prevent tipping thereof. Each of the stands has the shankportion thereof extending through a groove Ill formed in theundersurface of the body member I or I whereby the undersurfaces ofthese body members will abut the floor without interference by the rodsforming the stands. Each rod may be provided with a serrated top surfaceat the point of engagement with the bottom of the groove I0 to preventrelative slippage therebetween. These rods may be secured to the bodymembers as by staples 8', which embrace the rods and are driven into theundersurfaceof the body members as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. ,The bodymembers have bevelled upper inner edges cooperating to form a grooveIIlf therebetween when these members are assembled in side by siderelation and used as a boot jack. Such a groove will prevent pinching ofthe skin of the foot between the members when assembled in this relationand held by the bare foot while removing a boot from the other foot.

When the members I and I are fitted together as shown in Figs. 1 and 7,they cooperate to form a boot jack which may be used to remove a boot asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7. One foot holds the stand in secureposition on the floor While the heel portion of the boot on the. otherfoot is engaged in the yoke formed by the arms 4 for drawing the bootoff the foot. The mutually inwardly facing sides of these yoke armsconverge downwardly and inwardly so as to form a wedging yoke that willengage the spur portion of the boot heel to hold the boot effectivelywhile the foot is withdrawn therefrom. The hook and eye connections 2and 3 beneath the boot-jack serve to prevent collapsing thereof duringthis operation. The offset engaging ends of these elements 2 and 3permit the body members I and I to fit together in complementaryrelation presenting substantially a flat top surface on the boot jack sothat it may be held in place effectively in use.

These body members may be separated from each other and usedrespectively as boot hooks as shown in Fig. 2, being of a, size andshape that they may be grasped readily by the user either at the sidesof the body members I and l or by the offset ends I of the stands, whichwill form handles for the purpose. By constructing the stand and thehook 9 as one integral unit, the line of pull is lengthwise of themember and in alignment with the corresponding loop on the boot. Thismakes it possible to use a smaller size of rod for the purpose than ifthis rod were offset or deformed, which also reduces the cost of thedevice and makes it lighter in weight both for use and shipping.

The interconnection of the respective members I and J not only enablesthese members to be separated readily for use as boot hooks, but thesemembers may be separated and nested together for shipping and storage,because they may be packed effectively to reduce their size andcapacity.

.While the invention has been illustrated in a certain embodiment, it isrecognized that variations and changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the invention except as specified in the claims.

I claim:

1. A combined boot jack and boot hook comprising a pair of elongatedmembers, each of said members having a yoke arm on one end thereof,

said yoke arms being adapted to cooperate to form a boot jack when themembers are assembled in side by side relation, means detachablyconnecting said members together in side by side relation, means forminga supporting stand for holding the connected members in inclinedpositions as a boot jack said stand-forming means also including meanswhich form hooks which extend laterally in opposite directions from saidmembers at the respective ends of the latter which are opposite to theends where the yoke arms are disposed, said hooks being positioned in ahorizontal plane so as to form a level support for said members in theirinclined positions.

2. A combined boot jack and boot hook comprising a pair of elongatedbody members arranged in side by side relation, and each of said membershaving a wide top surface and constructed at one end with a yoke armadapted to cooperate with the yoke arm on the complementary member toform a boot jack, a stand connected with the body members intermediatethe ends thereof for holding the body members in upwardly inclinedpositions in side by side relation, said stand also including meanswhich form hooks which extend laterally in opposite directions from saidmembers at the respective ends of the latter which are opposite to theends where the yoke arms are disposed, said hooks being positioned in ahorizontal plane so as to form a level support for said members in theirinclined positions.

Cir

3. A combined boot jack and boot hook comprising a pair of elongatedbody members arranged in side by side relation, and each of said membershaving a wide top surface and constructed at one end with a yoke armadapted to cooperate with the yoke arm on the complementary member toform a boot jack, a hook connected with each body member at the oppositeend thereof and a portion thereof extending forward to form a standwhich is connected with the body members intermediate the ends thereoffor holding the body members in upwardly inclined positions in side byside relation, and hook and eye connections between the body members fordetachably securing said members together.

4. A combined boot jack and boot hook comprising elongated body membersarranged in side by side relation and having yoke arms at one endthereof cooperating to form a boot jack, means detachably connectingsaid members together, and a stand on each member secured thereto andhaving a portion thereof forming a boot hook.

5. A combined boot jack and boot hook comprising elongated body membersarranged in side by side relation and having yoke arms at one endthereof cooperating to form a boot jack, means detachably connectingsaid members together, and a stand secured to each member in substantiallongitudinal alignment therewith and providing a support therefor, saidstand having a portion thereof forming a boot hook at one end of themember.

6. A combined boot jack and boot hook comprising elongated body membersarranged in side by side relation and having yoke arms at one endthereof cooperating to form a boot jack, means detachably connectingsaid members together, and a stand on each member secured thereto andhaving a portion thereof forming a boot hook, said stand including a rodhaving an offset end secured to the member and having the hook formedintegral with the opposite end of said rod.

7. A combined boot jack and boot hook comprising elongated body membersarranged in side by side relation and having yoke arms at one endthereof cooperating to form a boot jack, means connecting said membersin said side by side relation but affording ready separation of themembers, and a stand on each member secured thereto and having a portionthereof forming a boot hook, said stand including a rod extendingsubstantially lengthwise of the member and havinz an offset end securedto the member at an angle thereto and having the opposite end of saidrod formed integral with the hook, said member having a groove thereininwhich the rod is disposed at a point adjacent the hook.

CHARLES G. HILTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 329,576 Lightwardt, Jr. Nov. 3,1885 434,653 Bommer Aug. 19, 1890 460,045 Tata Sept. 22, 1891 1,293,318Boissiere et al. Feb. 4, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 14,191Great Britain 1891 3,799 Sweden Sept. 30, 1892

